County board approves three collective bargaining agreements

The Henry County Board Tuesday approved three new collective bargaining agreements with two unions representing county employees.

Following an executive session, the board approved a collective bargaining agreement between Hillcrest Home and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Council 31, AFL-CIO.

The vote was 16-3 with one abstention. Members Jim Kursock, Ted Sturtevant and Kathy Nelson voted no, and Marvin Gradert abstained.

After a second closed session the board approved agreements between the county and the Henry County Highway Department and Laborers International Union of North America, Local 538; and between the county and Henry County Clerk and Recorder, Coroner, Treasurer and Sheriff and AFSCME Council 31.

The board approved the two agreements by 19-1, with Gradert voting no on both.

Also Tuesday, Gary Radicic, manager of the Henry County Emergency Management Agency, gave an overview of the agency’s emergency operation plan that contains contingencies for 20 different scenarios.

Renewal of the plan is set for Sept. 30.

Cathy Foes, director of the Henry County Tourism Bureau gave a report of what the bureau has accomplished over the past year.

With the assistance of two interns this summer, Foes put together a visitor guide that promotes Henry County and provides people with a map.

The visitor guide also contains information on transportation, arts and culture, dining and shopping, the Walldogs in Kewanee, festivals, calendar of events, history, agri-tourism, accommodations and more.

Foes set up her office at the new Amtrak Station in Kewanee in July.

“It’s been a great six months,” she said, “and I want to say thank you to the city of Kewanee because you are the new home.”

More information is available at www.visithenrycounty.com.

In other business:

- Doug Peterson was appointed to the Henry County Planning Committee to replace the late Jim King. The term began Feb. 12 and will run until a replacement is named.

- Kippy Nelson was appointed to the Local Emergency Planning Committee, with a term to run from Feb. 12 to Nov. 30, 2014.

- The board unanimously approved a resolution to continue a cooperative tourism agreement between the county and the Henry County Tourism Bureau.

- The board unanimously approved a five-year professional services contract for Web site development through the Sidwell Company.

- The board approved an agreement to provide law enforcement services to the village of Orion. All services will come with reimbursement from the village.

- Transportation chair Rick Livesay reported he will be placing an ad in local newspapers to hire a civil engineer.

- Health and social services chair Karen Urick reported that the resident census at Hillcrest Nursing Home is 91, and that openings are available. Certified Nurse Aide classes through Black Hawk College-East Campus will again use Hillcrest as their training site this semester, as their 5-star rating qualifies the nursing home as an approved training site.

Page 2 of 2 - Urick also reported that Dr. Paul Rudy will accept the position of medical director at Hillcrest.

- Erik Brown, Republican candidate for mayor of Colona, introduced himself to the board.

- The board approved changing their meeting date from the second Tuesday of each month to the Thursday following the second Tuesday. The vote was 18-2 with Jim Kursock and Jerry Thompson voting no. The new schedule takes effect with the March 14 meeting.